After Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann challenged the BJP, Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal for an open debate on issues pertaining to the state, Punjab LoP and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday accepted the invitation and stated that "it should happen on a common platform," news agency ANI reported. Mann challenged Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Punjab Assembly leader Partap Singh Bajwa, and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to a debate.
Speaking with media, Bajwa stated: "It should happen on a common platform...we want the venue to be Chandigarh because it is the capital of Punjab and there will be neutrality...the mediator of the debate must be a retired Punjabi judge of the Supreme Court or else a Chandigarh based high court judge, approved by all the 4 parties (AAP, BJP, Akali Dal and Congress). We want the debate to be live not recorded..."
"It is an open invitation to (Punjab) BJP president Jakhar ji, Sukhbir Singh Badal of Akali Dal, Raja Warring, Partap Bajwa of Congress that instead of squabbling every day, come and sit in front of the people of Punjab and the media for a live debate on who carried out the loot and how was it done,” Mann had stated.
CM Mann called for a "live debate" on all topics, including nepotism, toll plazas, and water sharing on the Sutlej River.
In response to Mann, Punjab BJP head Sunil Jakhar stated that he was willing to debate any topic concerning Punjab.
Taking to X, Jakhar stated: “First of all, you tell us that under what pressure, or for which political interests, you knelt before the Supreme Court on the serious issue of Punjab's waters. Punjab seeks an answer."
The opposition parties have been critical of the Mann government over the SYL issue.
The Punjab BJP staged a protest on Saturday, accusing the AAP administration of failing to protect the state's interest in river water.
Slamming CM Mann, Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal stated: “Before talking about anything else, CM Bhagwant Mann should tell how he backstabbed the farmers, labourers, and the youths in the Supreme Court on October 4. He, on behalf of Punjab, has said that they are ready to build SYL, but they are unable to acquire ‘virodhi’ land."
Jakhar said that the government "weakened" Punjab's Supreme Court position on the SYL issue.
According to Jakhar, the state administration maintained in the highest court that the government was willing to build the canal but that opposition parties and farmers were opposed to it.